Continuing with the city initiatives started last year, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed university) Chandigarh had organized Open House 2009 on 2nd May, 2009. The day began with lots of excitement at PEC when the bright young minds from various schools of the tricity arrived at PEC for their day full of practical knowledge. All the students had lots of expectations from their dream destination. The inaugural session began with the address of Dr. Manoj Datta, Director,PEC who inspired the students through his captivating words to work hard to achieve their aspirations.

The event aimed at raising awareness amongst the young children primarily from class X to XII and also invoking within them a sense inquest about future technologies and engineering as a profession. The students from various schools were taken on well guided tours to various kiosks being put up in all the departments where they witnessed several interesting engineering projects & working models developed by the students of the college, including award winning entries at the BAJA competition by the students of Mechanical Engineering.

Open House is considered to be an excellent opportunity by the young students who desire to join engineering colleges and thus inquisitive to know about various disciplines of engineering and technology. It is also an opportunity to know more about Punjab Engineering College and raise queries to PEC students and faculty. It also paves way for students to make informed decisions regarding the career path they wish to choose in today’s world of myriad options.

Subsequent to the college tour, and a round of refreshments lectures were delivered by the successful alumni of the college, Mr. Rajinder Kumar Kaura, (batch 1973), CEO, Bergen group of industries and also by Mr. Vikram Hans, (1980 batch). The expert lectures were of immense help to the students as they helped them to understand the life in an industry and the proficiency required to achieve success in any field.

PEC has been a premier institution of technical education in the region and the work done by the students has always been widely appreciated. The projects designed & developed by the students today effectively displayed the technical knowledge inculcated in the minds of the budding engineering through well structured academic programme. It is through this event that the young minds of the schools in the region could witness the amount of hard work, study, and research that go into the making of a great engineer.

To give impetus to the dreams of students from all strata of the society, a special focus was being given to students from rural areas this year. Many children from rural schools also participated. Some of them were GHS Hallomajra, GHS Dadumajra, GHS Kajheri, GHS Maloya, GHS Kaimbwala, GHS K. Alisher, GHS Karsan, etc. Besides, there had many other government and private schools also such as: GMSSS Manimajra, GMSSS 21, GMSSS 35d, GMSSS 19c, GMSSS 33, GMSSS 22a, GMSSS 10, GMSSS 23, GMSSS 16, St. Kabir, DAV 15, Mt. Carmel, St. Johns, Carmal Convent.

Student visited major laboratories of all the departments; to have a glimpse of working engineering models designed by PEC students. All engineering departments namely Aeronautical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Electrical Communication, Computer Science & Engineering, Information Technology, Production Engineering, Metallurgy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Sciences had put up the projects by their students.

Six awards had been given during the Open House 2009. The prizes worth Rs. 10000/- towards best projects at the Open House were sponsored by PEC Alumni Association (PECOSA) to encourage the students for the great work done.